10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Harmony Day 2025 in Your Classroom

Harmony Week (17–23 March 2025) is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate Australia’s rich cultural diversity. If you’re planning your classroom activities for Harmony Day, we’ve got ten creative ideas to help your students connect, learn and appreciate the many cultures that make our country special.

1. Explore the Globe Together

One of the most engaging ways to celebrate Harmony Week in the classroom is by learning about different cultures using interactive tools like Google Earth. Zoom in on countries that reflect your students’ heritage, explore their cities and landscapes, and check out user-uploaded photographs.

Create a classroom display by dropping pins on the map to represent the diverse backgrounds of your students. This simple but powerful visual reminder can spark meaningful conversations about cultural identity and global awareness, and foster a greater understanding of the world outside the classroom.

2. Celebrate Cultural Diversity Through Picture Books

Watch Mem Fox read 'Whoever You Are' on YouTube

Books are a powerful way to introduce the concept of cultural diversity to children. Picture books can help students build empathy, gain a better understanding of different cultures and experiences and transport them to new lands and ideas through the magic of story telling.

Looking for inspiration? Our friend Mrs Learning Bee has compiled a fantastic list of 20 culturally responsive teaching picture books perfect for Harmony Week, or any time of the year.

3. Sing, Dance and Connect Through Music

Music has a magical way of bringing people together. Use this week to introduce students to songs from around the world, creating a playlist to play during brain breaks or lunchtime. There are plenty of international music playlists on YouTube or Spotify that can help set the mood.

Don’t forget to share Better Together by Pevan & Sarah - an upbeat, easy-to-learn Harmony Week song that celebrates inclusion and unity. It’s free to watch in Cub Club and has already become a favourite for classroom singalongs and assembly performances!

4. Host a Cultural Dress Parade

A cultural dress parade is a wonderful way for students to showcase their backgrounds by wearing traditional clothing or the colour orange, which symbolises harmony and inclusion.

For younger students, our free downloadable Harmony Day crowns and wristbands make perfect parade or performance accessories. They’re available now in Cub Club and add a creative, inclusive touch to your classroom celebration.

5. What Makes Me Special – A Classroom Activity

For early learners, understanding cultural diversity starts with exploring their own uniqueness and sharing this with their peers. That’s why we’ve created a range of free What Makes Me Special drawing and writing activities. These worksheets help young students recognise and celebrate their unique qualities, interests and skills.

With seven differentiated templates to choose from, your students can express themselves and proudly share what makes them special with their classmates. A perfect Harmony Week activity for preschool and early primary classrooms!

6. Host a Cultural Food Day

If your school allows it, ask students and families to share traditional dishes from their cultures. This can be a fun way for students to explore global cuisines and learn about food customs from around the world.

If sharing food isn't an option, have students draw and write about the food they love to eat at home and host a 'virtual picnic' where they talk about why they love these foods with their peers.

7. Create a Harmony Mural

Invite students to contribute drawings, paintings or collages that represent their heritage, family traditions or what harmony means to them. Combine all the pieces into a large classroom mural to create a beautiful visual representation of unity and diversity.

If you're looking for more Harmony Day classroom decor, check out our free Harmony bunting, lettering, fish displays & posters to brighten your classroom and spread the message that 'Everyone Belongs'.

8. Storytelling & Cultural Show-and-Tell

Encourage students to bring in items from their culture - such as clothing, photographs or small keepsakes - and share their stories with the class. Alternatively, you could invite guest speakers from your school community to talk about their cultural background or experiences. Brainstorm a list of questions with your class to ask the speakers and have students discuss what they learnt afterwards.

9. Virtual Pen Pals

If possible, connect your class with students from another city or country through a virtual exchange program. Writing letters or sharing videos about daily life can help foster a sense of global citizenship and mutual respect. The Teacher's Corner connects classrooms worldwide looking for penpals - you can find yours here.

10. Create a Kindness Chain

Have students write kind messages, affirmations or compliments about their classmates on strips of coloured paper - you could go multi-coloured for a bright and cheerful look, or orange for Harmony Week. Link the strips together to create a kindness chain that can be displayed around the classroom.

Need more Harmony Week ideas?

The official Harmony Week website has a wide range of classroom activities and lesson plans designed for all age groups.

You can also explore our full range of free Harmony Week resources in Cub Club - perfect for decorating your classroom, organising activities or planning meaningful conversations around inclusion and belonging.

Let’s come together to celebrate what makes us all unique - because we sound better in harmony!

We’d love to know how you’re celebrating Harmony Week at your school this year and if you plan on trying out any of the ideas above. Get in touch via our Contact form to share all of your thoughts!

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